Björneborg

Björneborg, called Pori in Finnish, stands near the mouth of the Kokemäki River on Finland's western coast. As land rose and navigation became more difficult, the older river towns of Kokemäki and Ulvila lost access to shipping. In 1558 Duke John founded Björneborg closer to the sea and ordered Ulvila's burghers to move there. A riverside shipyard opened in 1572, and a large vessel known as the Porin Kraveli was completed in 1583. Russian troops occupied the town during the Great Northern War; foreign trade suffered, and Björneborg did not regain its staple rights until 1765.